I Shot Jesse James
THE THRILLING AND COLORFUL LAST DAYS OF AMERICA'S MOST FABULOUS OUTLAW...POWERFULLY WRITTEN IN GUNSMOKE!
Bob Ford murders his best friend Jesse James in order to obtain a pardon that will free him to marry his girlfriend Cynthy. The guilt-stricken Ford soon finds himself greeted with derision and open mockery throughout town. He travels to Colorado to try his hand at prospecting in hopes that marriage with Cynthy is still in the cards.
Cast
Preston Foster
John Kelley
Barbara Britton
Cynthy Waters
John Ireland
Bob Ford
Reed Hadley
Jesse James
J. Edward Bromberg
Harry Kane
Victor Kilian
Soapy
Tom Tyler
Frank James
Tommy Noonan
Charles Ford
Eddie Dunn
Joe, Silver King Bartender
Margia Dean
Saloon Singer
Byron Foulger
Silver King Room Clerk
Jeni Le Gon
Veronica, Cynthy's Maid
Barbara Woodell
Mrs. Zee James
Phillip Pine
Man in Saloon
Frank Hagney
Livery Stableman (uncredited)
George Morrell
Play Spectator (uncredited)
Stanley Price
Bank Cashier (uncredited)
Jack Richardson
St. Joseph Saloon Bartender (uncredited)
Britt Wood
Play Spectator (uncredited)
More Like This
Reviews
John Chard
This Bob Has No Hope.
Sam Fuller's first film direction is a version of what happened to Robert Ford (John Ireland), the man who famously killed his friend - Jesse James (Reed Hadley).
Taking up the basic elements of the real life story, Fuller keeps the narrative tight whilst ensuring the complexities of the main characters come to the fore. All the quirks and peccadilloes of the human condition are explored (the detail of Ford's torments and troubles superbly told), which is something of a rarity for a late 1940s "B" standard Western. The use of close-ups are to purposely highlight the psychological discord on show, marking this out as a good pointer to the later work of its maverick director. Ernest Hiller photographs the exteriors out of Iverson Ranch in Chatsworth and support to Ireland comes from Preston Foster, Barbara Britton and J. Edward Bromberg. 7/10
You've reached the end.